Owen moved fast, steadying Anna before she could stumble any further. He looked down at her, his voice gentle as he asked, "You good?"

"I'm okay," Anna replied, though her hand was wrapped so tightly around his sleeve that her knuckles turned pale, as if letting go was the last thing she wanted.

Owen offered a reassuring pat on her back, silently telling her she was safe.

His attention then shifted, and the warmth in his gaze vanished as he focused on Ivy. His words came out cool and commanding. "Take off the dress."

Ivy's eyes widened in shock. "What are you saying, Mr. White?"

Roderick quickly stepped in to clarify. "Mr. White is particular about his gifts. That gown was meant for his bride. Now that someone else has worn it, she can't possibly put it on. If she won't wear it, then nobody else should either—not even for a moment."

Mortified, Ivy felt her whole body tremble with fury. No one had ever embarrassed her like this before. "My sister gave me this dress! How dare you treat me like this?"

Owen's gaze didn't soften in the slightest. "Would you prefer I call someone to help you out of it?"

As soon as he spoke, two female attendants entered the lounge.

With his eyes resting on Ivy, Owen addressed them. "Miss Russell seems reluctant to remove the gown. Please help her with it."

The attendants didn't hesitate, guiding Ivy away toward the inner chamber without a word.

"Keep your hands off me!" Ivy fought to break free, but the two attendants held her firm and led her straight into the adjoining room.

A sharp rip of fabric split the air, followed by Ivy's shrill protests echoing through the suite.

Owen showed no interest in the commotion. Instead, he looked down at Anna, who sat quietly on his lap. "You don't have to wear that dress. Let me get you something even nicer. Would you like a brand new dress?"

Anna clapped with innocent delight. "Yes! I want new clothes. Can I really get new clothes?"

Her smile was bright and childlike, but inside, her mind was already turning, weighing her options.

He had made it painfully clear he was not a man to be underestimated.

If she made a move too soon, she might not make it out unscathed.

While Anna wrestled with her thoughts, Ivy shuffled out of the inner room dressed in an outdated, unflattering frock.

Roderick gave a low, amused laugh. "That outfit actually suits you better."

"You'll all be sorry for this, just wait!" Ivy snapped, stamping her foot before storming away.

With Ivy gone, Owen turned his attention back to Anna. "Go change into your new dress. We'll need to be ready for the ceremony soon."

Anna tilted her head in agreement, hopped down from his lap, and followed the attendants into the inner chamber to get dressed.

When the door clicked shut behind Anna, Roderick stepped closer to Owen. "Mr. White, you've already known Cade tried to trick you by sending his brain-injured daughter. Why go through with the marriage?"

Owen kept his eyes fixed on the inner room, silent for a moment.

It had been years since they first crossed paths. She had changed a lot.

This wedding was more than a ceremony—it was his way of giving Anna a real escape from the Russell family.

The White family weren't exactly known for being gentle, but if he used the last half-year of his life to plan for Anna's safety, she would stand a far better chance than if she stayed with her own family.

"It's because she's Anna Russell," Owen answered quietly.

Anna soon stepped out, radiant in her wedding gown.

A sea of tiny diamonds sparkled along the hem, making her seem almost otherworldly, like a storybook princess come to life.

Owen couldn't help but pause at the sight, then smiled with rare tenderness. Reaching out, he offered his hand. "Let's go. It's time."

Anna came over, slipping her hand into his. "Just stay close to me. There's nothing for you to worry about," Owen said softly.

Anna nodded, her voice bright and simple. "I promise I'll be good."

Together, Anna and Owen left the lounge, moving side by side as he guided his wheelchair and she stole a curious glance at him.

Was he nice to her because he felt sorry for her?

The moment they entered the banquet hall, the whole venue buzzed with excitement, all eyes drawn to the couple at the center of it all.

Since he turned eighteen, Owen had vanished from Aresrora's public eye, with endless gossip swirling about his supposed disfigurement.

Yet the man wheeled onto the stage today was striking, every bit as elegant as any in the room.

Ivy couldn't tear her gaze from Anna, standing beneath the bright lights, irritation simmering in her chest.

How did Anna end up in a fresh, dazzling wedding dress after everything?

It was as if the crowd picked up on Ivy's disbelief, their hushed voices filling the hall.

"Did you see that? Mr. White must treasure his bride if he's willing to give her a dress like that. I heard it's the only one in existence, created by that world-famous designer!"

"Word is, the gown cost well over a hundred million."

A hundred million for a dress?

Ivy's scheme to ruin Anna's big day had backfired spectacularly. Not only was Anna not humiliated, but she now stood in a gown worth a fortune. How did she always land on her feet?

As Anna stood on stage, her expression sweet but vacant, Ivy let out a mocking laugh. "Anna, do you think the Whites would still pamper you if they found out you're a dimwit?" she muttered under her breath.

Anna held her place on stage, casting a sharp, icy gaze down at Ivy. Beneath her cool expression, a trace of sly satisfaction flickered in her smile.

Once she had discovered that Owen was the key to her three-billion-dollar mission, everything about her original plan shifted.

Today, she intended to play the part of a simpleton, giving the Whites no choice but to call off the wedding and drag the entire Russell family down with her.

Suddenly, party poppers exploded with a cheerful crack.

A cascade of gold confetti sparkled through the air, turning the hall into a scene straight out of a fairy tale. Anna wasted no time, circling Owen's wheelchair with wide, excited eyes, clapping and laughing like a carefree child. "Look! So many sparkles! It's so pretty!"

Down in the audience, Gregg White, Owen's grandfather, shot to his feet, his face tight with confusion as he stared at the stage. "What is happening up there?"

Noticing Anna's outburst, Wesley Jones, a friend of Owen's, quickly moved to look closer.

Owen, however, gave him a subtle look, and Wesley instantly pivoted to support Gregg. "Let's not cause a scene, Gregg. The ceremony isn't over yet. Every prominent family in Aresrora is watching—let's wait until after the wedding to talk."

Despite the intervention, whispers rippled through the crowd.

"Is it just me, or does the bride seem a little off?"

"Didn't the Russell family have a daughter who lost her wits after that accident? I wonder if she's the one."

"Are you kidding me?" A woman's voice rose above the crowd, sharp with disbelief. "The Russell family actually handed a simpleton over to Owen White? Are they out of their minds?"

"It's because Owen—" The man faltered. Whatever he was about to say withered on his tongue. He didn't dare voice the rumor hanging in the air—that Owen wouldn't be around much longer.

Their eyes met for a beat. No one said another word. The silence spoke for them.

A quiet thrill curled through Ivy as she studied the way Anna carried herself.

People had already passed the story along, and every pair of eyes now understood that Owen White had taken a simpleton bride.

Life at the White household would never fall in Anna's favor, not after she made a scene like that.

Without warning, Owen caught Anna's wrist and guided her against his chest with enough strength to show he meant it.

Down below, Ivy watched him draw Anna close, her gaze fixed on the stage as excitement stirred beneath her cool expression.

"Owen! Go on. Turn your fury on her. Break her spirit until nothing is left," Ivy thought to herself.

Settled on Owen's lap, Anna lifted her eyes toward him with a look that almost pleaded for an answer.

He ought to be furious enough to call off their wedding.

Instead, what she found was a gentle smile softening his features.

From inside his jacket, he pulled out a folded handkerchief and brushed it tenderly across her damp forehead. His voice dropped to something warm. "Do you want to see the fireworks tonight? Once the ceremony ends, I'll take you to watch them with me, alright?"

Anna's mind went blank for a moment as she was caught off guard by Owen's response. She simply nodded, lost for words.

Owen's gaze softened, a genuine warmth flickering in his eyes. "That's settled, then. Let's finish the ceremony."

What on earth was going through his mind?

She had convinced everyone that she was a fool, yet Owen still insisted on marrying her as if nothing was amiss.

Ivy's frustration reached a boiling point. Her fingers curled so tightly around her own hand she nearly drew blood.

How could this be happening?

Owen was fully aware Anna was a simpleton, yet he continued to show her nothing but patience and care.

"Just you wait, Anna," Ivy hissed under her breath, malice twisting her lips. "There's no way the White family will let this stand. I hope you're ready for the fallout."

After the ceremony, Anna was ushered straight back to the White family's estate.

She was left in her new room, the halls silent and empty, as if the world had forgotten her existence entirely.

Oddly, she felt perfectly at ease. If the White family wanted to ignore her, that was nothing new. Her own family had always kept her hidden away, so being locked up and left alone didn't feel strange at all.

With a shrug, Anna discarded her wildly expensive wedding dress and let it fall in a careless heap on the floor. She padded barefoot into the bathroom, ready for a hot shower.

Meanwhile, out in the mansion's sprawling gardens, Wesley turned to Owen, confusion written all over his face. "I've already smoothed things over with Gregg. But as your friend, I need to know—why would you go through with this when the Russell family clearly tried to humiliate you by sending their dimwitted daughter?"

Pale and breathless, Owen stifled a cough before he spoke. "Wesley, do you remember what happened seven years ago at the lakeside resort—when I was taken hostage?"

Wesley's eyes widened in surprise. "How could I forget? Your grandmother nearly collapsed from the shock. Thank goodness you followed that young lady back home."

Owen gave a slow nod. "That woman was Anna. She was only thirteen, and she'd been taken too. She risked everything to help me escape."

"Anna?" Wesley stared at him, stunned by the revelation.

A shadow passed over Owen's face. "That same year, she was in a terrible car crash. I've always felt something was off about it, but no matter how hard I searched, nothing suspicious ever turned up. The accident left her the way she is now. Marrying her is the only way I can get her out from under the Russells' thumb. It's all I can do for her, Wesley, before my time runs out."

Wesley's playful demeanor faded, replaced by a rare seriousness. "Who says your time's up? I'm meeting with Dr. Bradley today. There might be a miracle out there—someone with a real cure. Don't throw away your hope yet."

Owen let his head rest against the back of his wheelchair, resignation softening his voice. "The doctors say I have half a year left, at most. There's no sense in chasing miracles."

He motioned for Roderick to pass a folder of documents to Wesley. "I need you to handle everything if I'm gone."

Wesley flipped through the papers, his shock plain. "You're leaving everything to Anna? Won't that just paint a target on her back?"

Owen's reply was steady. "That's why I need you to watch over her. When I'm gone, she'll have no one else. I just want her to live a quiet, safe life."

A determined look settled on Wesley's face. "I'll keep trying for a cure. But if anything happens, you have my word—no one will touch Anna as long as I'm here."

With nothing left unsaid, Owen signaled for Roderick to take him back to his room.

"We've arrived, Mr. White."

"Go ahead and get things ready. You don't have to stay with me," Owen responded.

"Understood."

Owen pushed the door open and saw the wedding dress lying abandoned on the floor.

He could hear the water running in the bathroom, so he rolled himself inside, switched on the lamp by the window, and quietly picked up a book to read.

Anna came out of the bathroom with only a towel around her, and her face turned cold as soon as she saw Owen.

Owen glanced up at her right then.

He noticed water dripping from her hair and motioned for her to come closer. "Why didn't you dry your hair before coming out here?"

Anna quickly hid her reaction, forcing a simple smile as she walked toward Owen with her hair still wet. "It'll dry on its own."

"You really should dry it first, or you'll end up with a cold," Owen said, reaching for a towel and gently patting her hair dry.

Anna kept sneaking glances at Owen while he did this. He was gentle, and he did not seem to be pretending.

Why was he being so nice to someone everyone called a simpleton?

Owen noticed the purple marks and scabs on Anna's arms. Some were old, and some looked fresh, which meant she had taken a bad beating. When he spoke again, his voice was cold. "Where did those bruises on your arms come from?"

Anna lowered her gaze to her arms and pushed out a small pout. "Daddy hit me because I kept sneaking extra food."

She slipped closer and wrapped both hands around Owen's arm while she blinked up at him. "I promise I won't sneak food again. Please don't hit me. I can't stand getting hurt."

"You're safe here. You can eat whatever you want, and no one will lay a hand on you," Owen reassured her as he rested his hand on her head. "I'll make sure no one ever bullies you."

Anna brightened at his words and threw her arms around him, swaying as if she were playing a game. "You're so nice to me. I feel happy."

Even with the towel between them, Owen could sense the softness of her chest. His body went rigid for a moment, though he still allowed her to cling to him.

While she stayed wrapped around him, her expression shifted into something far colder.

Her fingers brushed the ring on her hand, and she slipped out a thin silver wire with practiced ease. If she chose to strike now, she could end this man's life without a single witness.